No buyers left for Ansett. .AAP. .27feb02
ANSETT staff have been told the Tesna sale was over and there was no-one waiting in the wings to pick up the airline.
Ben Hayes, a pricing distributor who has worked at his second stint at Ansett since June 2000, said it felt like the first time Ansett collapsed but worse. Mr Hayes was one of hundreds of staff addressed by unions this morning.
"It hurts more this time," Mr Hayes said.
"You think you do what you have to do to get the airline working and you get kicked in the gut," he said.
"There is anger there against (Tesna principals Lindsay Fox and Solomon Lew). What do you expect."
"I do feel led on."
Staff have been coming and going from Ansett headquarters in Melbourne, some in shock, some in tears, others rejoicing that they have been released from their uncertain Ansett contracts and are now free to accept jobs with other airlines without losing their entitlements.
Staff at nearby cafes said they would lose up to 70 per cent trade once Ansett went under.